Wake Forest Athletics
Wake Forest University
Florida Gator Invitational
Demon Deacons Finish 12th at SunTrust Gator Invitational
2/15/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
Feb. 15, 2009
GAINESVILLE, Fla. - Senior Dustin Groves shot a final round 71 to lead the Wake Forest men's golf team to a 12th place finish at the SunTrust Gator Invitational on Sunday.
Groves recorded two bogies, one birdie and 15 pars in his round of 1-over 71. After rounds of 69 and 72 yesterday, he finished the tournament at 2-over par and tied for 17th.
The team posted its lowest round of the tournament on Sunday, a 7-over 287, but wasn't able to improve upon its position heading into the day and wound up finishing 12th in the 14-team field.
"We played a little better today but we were still hampered by the big numbers," said Wake Forest head coach Jerry Haas. "I think we now have a .500 record overall so we have to step it up these next three tournaments. We don't want to head into the ACC Tournament on the fence because there are too many good teams in this conference."
Freshman Daniel Meggs played a very solid round on Sunday, making four birdies on his was to a 2-over 72. He finished the tournament at 6-over par and tied for 35th.
After posting a 78 in the opening round, junior Travis Wadkins responded with a strong round of 71 yesterday afternoon and a round of 72 today. He opened with pars on his first eight holes and was 3-over through 12. However, he would make three birdies coming in and would finish with a 2-over 72.
After not playing his best golf yesterday, junior Brendan Gielow played a steadier round on Sunday, also carding a 2-over 72. He finished the tournament 17over. Fellow junior Preston Yates also finished the tournament at 17-over after carding a 78 on Sunday.
Host Florida opened play on Sunday with a 10-shot lead after shooting 15-under yesterday. The Gators would not be challenged the entire day and would end up posting a 279 to claim their sixth-straight Gator Invite title by a whopping 18-shots.
The individual race was much tighter as Florida's Toby Ragland, the second round leader, finished tied with teammate Billy Horschel and Central Florida's Simon Ward. The three went to a playoff and Ward was the first to bow out as both Horschel and Ragland made birdies on the third playoff hole.
The teammates stayed tied until the seventh playoff hole when Ragland made birdie to claim medalist honors.
The Demon Deacons now set their sites on Myrtle Beach, S.C., where Wake will try to defend its title at the General Hackler Invitational. The Deacs came back from a 16-shot deficit in the final round to claim victory last season. The General Hackler will be played at the TPC of Myrtle Beach on March 8-9.
Players Mentioned
